Osteoarthritis 

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage. It is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, with an estimated 8.5 million people affected by the condition. It is one of the oldest and most common types of arthritis, often called "wear-and-tear arthritis" or "old person's arthritis,".

There are three characteristics of osteoarthritis:

1. Breakdown of cartilage -  the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones, bones rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement.
2. Bony growths developing around the edge of the joints,
3. Mild inflammation of the tissues around the joints (synovitis).

Osteoarthritis mostly occurs in the knees, hips and small joints of the hands. However, almost any joint can be affected.

Who develops osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis usually develops in people who are over 50 years of age, and it is more common in women than in men. It is commonly thought that osteoarthritis is an inevitable part of getting older, but this is not true.

Younger people can also be affected by osteoarthritis, in many cases, certain conditions seem to trigger osteoarthritis. People with joint injuries from sports, work-related activity, or accidents may be at increased risk, and obesity may lead to osteoarthritis of the knees. Individuals with mismatched surfaces on the joints that could be damaged over time by abnormal stress may be prone to osteoarthritis. One study reported that wearing shoes with 2.5 in (6.3 cm) heels or higher may also be a contributing factor. High heels force women to alter the way they normally maintain balance, putting strain on the areas between the kneecap and thigh bone and on the inside of the knee joint.

Managing osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is often thought of as a critical and disabling condition, but this is not usually the case. The symptoms vary greatly from person to person, and between different affected joints.

There can also be variation between the amount of damage to the joints and the severity of the symptoms. For example, a joint may be severely damaged without causing symptoms, or your symptoms may be severe without affecting the movement of your joint.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but the symptoms can be eased by using a number of different treatments. Mild symptoms can often be managed through exercise or by wearing suitable footwear. However, in more advanced cases of osteoarthritis, other treatments may be necessary such as analgesics (painkillers), physiotherapy or surgery.